Hurricane Ridge

Psalm 84:11,12 – The Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honour. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly.

When we landed at Port Angeles, Washington by ferry from Victoria, B.C., the clouds hung low over the town and the famed Olympic Mountains were completely invisible. The weather was so poor we really wondered whether it was worth driving the 17 miles up into the mountains of the Olympic National Park to Hurricane Ridge. We set out anyway up the steep winding road; it was like being in a plane taking off through thick cloud. About three quarters of the way up, suddenly we came out above the clouds into brilliant sunshine. At the top there was a spectacular view – deer silhouetted against the skyline of the ridge, with majestic snow-capped mountains behind.

If there are times when God seems absent from our lives it is only because his presence is obscured by low-lying clouds of sin or sadness, or of our own doubts or despair. Through faith we know that above the clouds the light and warmth of his love are still shining. The assurance of this can keep us going until the time comes when we can once again rise above the clouds into the light of God's presence.

Prayer:

Joyful, joyful we adore Thee,
God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee,
Opening to the sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,
Drive the dark of doubt away,
Giver of immortal gladness,
Fill us with the light of day.